The Romans Road

One of my favorite meetings is sitting down with a person who is interested in baptism. Somewhere along the way in that conversation, I often ask them to imagine that I am a friend, a co-worker, or a classmate who is curious about becoming a Christian. Then I pose a simple question: “If I asked you how I could become a Christian, what would you say?”

On one hand, that question helps uncover whether the person truly understands the gospel and whether they themselves have personally experienced the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I want to know if they grasp the basic grammar of the gospel and have learned to speak of God’s salvation the way he does in his Word. On the other hand, I am also hoping to equip them to share that same saving message with others. One time-tested way of doing this is by walking with someone through a series of passages from Scripture known as “The Romans Road.”

When I was a boy, our church handed out a gospel tract with those very words printed on the cover. Inside was a collection of verses from the book of Romans that traced the way a sinner is made right with God. I memorized those passages, and through the years I have recalled them in countless gospel conversations with unbelieving friends.

This week I was thrilled to receive a text message from Diana Schneider, who shared how their family was memorizing the Romans Road together in their home. Since we are snowed in for a few days, let me extend that invitation and challenge each of you to commit these passages to memory. That way, when the Lord opens a door for you to speak about Christ, you will be ready to show them straight from Scripture, both the sinful condition of humanity and the gracious provision of God in Christ.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Here we are given a diagnosis that no one can escape. Each of us, from the greatest to the least, has fallen short of God’s glory and broken his laws and commands. Like an arrow that fails to reach its target, our lives have missed the mark of perfect obedience to the will of God.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The gospel is bad news before it is good news. A wage is something earned. Just as a worker receives what is due for their labor, so sin pays its workers; only its payment is death. In fact, original sin explains why death exists in the world at all. Yet in this verse we see two contrasted realities set before us: the death we have earned, and the life that God freely gives through Jesus Christ.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Here light breaks through the darkness. God’s love is not presented as something we earn, but is something he chooses to show sinners. Paul directs our gaze to the cross so that we might see why Jesus died: to pay the price for our sins, to stand in our place, and to bring us to God.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

This passage removes all grounds for boasting. Salvation is not achieved by works, effort, or merit. The forgiveness and life that come through Christ are received by faith alone. We confess Christ as Lord, we believe in his resurrection (and in him as the resurrection and the life), and God saves us by his grace.

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

This verse speaks to those who feel unworthy of God’s love, unfit to receive His grace, or burdened by a sense of spiritual inadequacy. It assures us that God welcomes the weakest and the vilest sinner to come and find peace with him.

For extra measure, I would also encourage you to memorize the theme verse of Romans:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16).

As we continue walking the Romans Road, let us keep believing the gospel for ourselves. Let us grow in the grammar of the gospel, learning to speak of God’s salvation the way he does. And let us share the good news of Jesus Christ far and wide, with all who are in need of this good news!

Blessing - Close your time of worship by singing the doxology and then reading 2 Corinthians 13:14.